Welsh households are sending 256,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill each year, including food, paper, and garden waste, despite a 70% reduction since 2005/6. The figure comes as councils spend £130,000 daily on landfill, with Denbighshire alone spending over £1.4 million last year.
Alan Roberts, senior waste officer at Denbighshire council, said 20% of black bin waste is food and another 20% is recyclable paper and cardboard. He estimated the authority could save £500,000 annually if residents used the correct bins. 'There is still a yuck factor when it comes to storing food waste separately,' he added.
The journey of a recyclable can from a home in Ruthin to the Hafod Landfill site in Wrexham illustrates the problem. After collection, it travels 20 miles to the site, where it is compacted into layers of waste. 'It'll probably be there forever,' said Ian Craven, Cory's area manager.
Denbighshire has the highest recycling rate in Wales at 65.9%, but its landfill costs have risen due to tax increases. The council uses smaller refuse bins and larger recycling containers to 'nudge' residents, with occasional enforcement action against non-compliant individuals.
Overall, Welsh landfill has dropped from 641,000 tonnes in 2012/13 to 453,000 tonnes in 2014/15, a 30% fall. However, the scale of avoidable waste remains significant, with councils seeking to further reduce contamination and increase recycling rates.
